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Commonwealth legislation
This legislation sets Australia’s technical rules for vehicle filament lamps (incandescent bulbs), requiring specific dimensional, electrical and photometric characteristics, colour options, and testing so bulbs fit and perform safely in approved lamp units. It affects vehicle makers, bulb manufacturers, importers and retailers by mandating compliance, conformity-of-production checks, and record-keeping—and permits compliance via equivalent international standards (e.g., UN R37, FMVSS 108, SAE, JIS). It ensures interchangeability, safety and traceability.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 51/00 – Filament Lamps) 2006.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 51/00 – Filament Lamps) 2006
Made under section 12 of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018
Compilation: 1 (up to and including Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule) Lighting Standards Amendment Instrument 2022 (No.1)
Compilation Date: 20 January 2023
Compiled by: Vehicle Safety Policy and Partnerships, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
CONTENTS
legislative provisions.............................................3
SCOPE........................................................3
APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION........................3
DEFINITIONS..................................................3
REQUIREMENTS...............................................3
EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES.................3
SUPPLEMENTARY GENERAL REQUIREMENTS...................4
ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS....................................4
NOTES........................................................5
Appendix A...........................................................6
COMPILATION NOTES..............................................159
This Australian Design Rule (ADR) prescribes the dimensional and photometric requirements for filament lamps which ensure interchangeability and correct functioning when installed in a lamp unit.
APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION
DEFINITIONS
REQUIREMENTS
The technical requirements of Appendix A as varied by part 5. Exemptions and Alternative Procedures and part 6. Supplementary General Requirements; or The alternative standards set out in part 7. Alternative Standards.
EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES
Section 2.2 Application for approval
Section 2.4 Approval
Section 3.8 Observation concerning selective yellow colour.
Section 5 Penalties for non conformity of production
Section 6 Production definitely discontinued
Section 7 Names and addresses of technical services responsible for conducting approval tests, and of administrative departments
Section 8 Transitional provisions
Annexes
Annex 2 Communication concerning the approval (or refusal or withdrawal of approval or production definitely discontinued) of a type of filament lamp pursuant to Regulation No. 37
Annex 3 Example of the arrangement of the approval mark
The following general requirements are supplementary to the requirements of Appendix A:
The requirements and procedures set out in Annexes 6 and 7 of Appendix A are acceptable for the purposes of demonstrating compliance with the technical requirements of this rule.
In paragraph 3.10 of Appendix A, it is permissible to use filament lamps other than standard filament lamps listed in Annex 1 for photometric tests specified in lighting component ADRs which refer to ADR 51/… provided those filament lamps comply with clause 7.2. and other requirements of this Rule except for Annex 1.
In cases where it is not possible to meet the requirements of paragraph 2.3, Inscriptions, information necessary to ensure traceability of replaceable components affecting the photometric performance must be provided. This information shall be marked on the bulb, or the cap, or permanently marked on the lamp body.
ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS
NOTES
Appendix A
UN REGULATION No. 37/03
UNIFORM PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF FILAMENT
LAMPS FOR USE IN APPROVED LAMP UNITS OF POWER DRIVEN
VEHICLES AND THEIR TRAILERS
NOTE:
In view of recent changes to the Regulation, text containing Supplements 8 and 9 have not been incorporated in the main Regulation document. Supplements 8 and 9 have been attached at the end of R37/03. Changes in the texts of Supplements 8 and 9 will be incorporated into the Regulation when the consolidated document is available from the UN-ECE.
Regulation No. 37
UNIFORM PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF FILAMENT
LAMPS FOR USE IN APPROVED LAMP UNITS OF POWER DRIVEN
VEHICLES AND OF THEIR TRAILERS
CONTENTS
REGULATION
2.1. Definitions
2.2. Application for approval
2.3. Inscriptions
2.4. Approval
3.1. Definitions
3.2. General specifications
3.3. Manufacture
3.4. Tests
3.5. Filament position and dimensions
3.6. Colour
3.7. The UV radiation of a halogen filament
3.8. lamp Observation concerning selective-yellow colour
3.9. Check on optical quality
3.10. Standard filament lamps
ANNEXES
Annex 1 Sheets
Sheets H1
Sheets H2
Sheets H3
Sheets H4
Sheets P21W
Sheet P21/4W
Sheets P21/5W
Sheet R5W
Sheet R10W
Sheet C5W
Sheets C21W (filament lamp for reversing lamp)
Sheet T4W
Sheet W5W
Sheet W3W
Sheets S1 and S2 (filament lamps for motor cycles)
Sheet S3 (filament lamp for mopeds)
CONTENTS (continued)
Sheets S4 (filament lamp for mopeds)
Sheets HS1
Sheets HS2 (halogen filament lamp for mopeds)
Sheets PY21W (amber coloured filament lamp)
Sheet H6W
Sheets HB3
Sheets HB4
Sheet T1.4W
Sheet H7
Sheets H27W
Sheets P27W
Sheets P27W/7W
Sheet WY5W
Sheets H21W
Sheets W21W
Sheets W21/5W
Sheets W2.3W
Sheets H8
Sheets W16W
Sheets HIR1
Sheets PY27/7W
Sheets HIR2
Sheets H9
Sheets H10
Annex 2 Communication concerning the approval (or extension or refusal or withdrawal of approval or production definitely discontinued) of a type of filament lamp pursuant to Regulation No. 37
Annex 3 Example of the arrangement of the approval mark */
Annex 4 Luminous centre and shapes of lamp filaments
Annex 5 Checking the colour and transmission of selective-yellow bulbs and outer bulbs and amber bulbs Annex 6 Minimum requirements for quality control procedures by the manufacturer
Annex 7 Sampling and compliance levels for manufacturer tests records
Annex 8 Minimum requirements for spot checks by the administrative authority
Annex 9 Compliance approved by spot check
*/ The first five filament lamp categories were added by Supplement 10 to the 03 series of amendments to Regulation No.37 (TRANS/SC.1/WP.29/ R.652).
Regulation No. 37
UNIFORM PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF FILAMENT
LAMPS FOR USE IN APPROVED LAMP UNITS OF POWER DRIVEN
VEHICLES AND OF THEIR TRAILERS
This Regulation applies to filament lamps shown in annex 1 and intended for use in approved lamp units of power driven vehicles and of their trailers.
2.1. Definitions
2.1.1. Definition of "category"
The term "category" is used in this Regulation to describe different basic design of standardized filament lamps. Each category has a specific designation, as for example: "F1", "P21W", "T4W".
2.1.2. Definition of "type"
Filament lamps of different "types" are lamps within the same category which differ in such essential respects as:
2.1.2.1. trade name or mark; 1/
2.1.2.2. bulb design, in so far as these differences affect the optical results;
2.1.2.3. bulb colour
A selective-yellow bulb or an additional selective-yellow outer bulb, solely intended to change the colour but not the other characteristics of a colourless filament lamp, does not constitute a change of type of the filament lamp;
2.1.2.4. rated voltage.
2.2. Application for approval
2.2.1. The application for approval shall be submitted by the owner of the trade name or mark, or by his duly accredited representative.
2.2.2. Every application for approval shall be accompanied (see also para. 2.4.2.) by:
2.2.2.1. drawings in triplicate, sufficiently detailed to permit identification of the type;
2.2.2.2. a brief technical description;
2.2.2.3. five samples of each colour which has been applied for.
2.2.3. In the case of a type of filament lamp differing only by the trade name or mark from a type that has already been approved it shall be sufficient to submit:
1/ Filament lamps bearing the same trade name or mark but produced by different manufacturers are considered as being of different types. Filament lamps produced by the same manufacturer differing only by the trade name or mark may be considered to be of the same type.
2.2.3.1. a declaration by the lamp manufacturer that the type submitted is identical (except in the trade name or mark) with and has been produced by the same manufacturer as, the type already approved, the latter being identified by its approval code;
2.2.3.2. two samples bearing the new trade name or mark.
2.2.4. The competent authority shall verify the existence of satisfactory arrangements for ensuring effective control of the conformity of production before type approval is granted.
2.3. Inscriptions
2.3.1. Filament lamps submitted for approval shall bear on the cap or bulb: 2/
2.3.1.1. the trade name or mark of the applicant;
2.3.1.2. the rated voltage;
2.3.1.3. the international designation of the relevant category;
2.3.1.4. the rated wattage (in the sequence, principal filament/secondary filament for dual- filament lamps); this need not be indicated separately if it is part of the
international designation of the relevant filament lamp category;
2.3.1.5. a space of sufficient size to accommodate the approval mark.
2.3.2. The space mentioned in paragraph 2.3.1.5. above shall be indicated in the drawings accompanying the application for approval.
2.3.3. Halogen filament lamps */ meeting the requirements of paragraph 3.7. below shall be marked with a "U".
2.3.4. Other inscriptions than those covered by paragraphs 2.3.1. and 2.4.3. may be affixed, on the condition that they do not adversely affect the luminous characteristics.
2.4. Approval
2.4.1. If all the samples of a type of filament lamp which are submitted in pursuance of paragraphs 2.2.2.3. or 2.2.3.2. above meet the requirements of this Regulation, approval shall be granted.
2.4.2. An approval code shall be assigned to each type approved. Its first character (at present 2 corresponding to the 02 series of amendments which entered into force on 27 October 1983 and to the 03 series of amendments, not requiring changes in the approval number, which entered into force on 1 June 1984) shall indicate the series of amendments incorporating the most recent major technical amendments made to the Regulation at the time of issue of the approval. This will be followed by an identification code comprising not more than two characters. Only the arabic numerals and capital letters listed in footnote 3/ shall be used. The same Contracting Party may not assign the same code to another type of filament lamp. Notice of approval or of extension or refusal or withdrawal of approval or
2/ In this latter case, the luminous characteristics shall not be adversely affected.
*/ Halogen filament lamps are filament lamps whose category designation starts with the letter "H".
3/ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S T U V W X Y Z
production definitely discontinued of a type of filament lamp pursuant to this Regulation shall be communicated to the Parties to the 1958 Agreement which apply this Regulation by means of a form conforming to the model in annex 2 to this Regulation. If the applicant so desires the approval code may be assigned to the colourless and to the selective-yellow filament lamp (see para. 2.1.2.3.).
2.4.3. To every filament lamp conforming to a type approved under this Regulation there shall be affixed in the space referred to in paragraph 2.3.1.5., in addition to the inscriptions required under paragraph 2.3.1., an international approval mark consisting of:
2.4.3.1. a truncated circle surrounding the letter "E" followed by the distinguishing number of the country which has granted approval; 4/
2.4.3.2. the approval code, placed close to the truncated circle.
2.4.4. If the applicant has obtained the same approval code for several trade names or marks, one or more of them will suffice to meet the requirements of paragraph 2.3.1.1.
2.4.5. The marks and inscriptions specified in paragraphs 2.3.1. and 2.4.3. shall be clearly legible and be indelible.
2.4.6. Annex 3 to this Regulation gives an example of arrangement of the approval mark.
3.1. Definitions
3.1.1. Rated voltage: voltage (in V) marked on the filament lamp;
3.1.2. Rated wattage: wattage (in W) marked on the filament lamp which may be incorporated into the international designation of the relevant category;
3.1.3. Test voltage: voltage, at the filament lamp terminals for which the electrical and photometric characteristics of the filament lamp are intended and are to be tested;
3.1.4. Objective values: values to be achieved, within the specified tolerances,
when the filament lamp is supplied with current at its test voltage;
3.1.5. Standard filament lamp: a lamp with colourless bulb (except for amber filament lamps) and with reduced dimensional tolerances, used for the testing of lighting devices. Standard filament lamps are specified in only one voltage rating for each category;
4/ 1 for Germany, 2 for France, 3 for Italy, 4 for the Netherlands, 5 for Sweden, 6 for Belgium, 7 for Hungary, 8 for the Czech Republic, 9 for Spain, 1O for Yugoslavia, 11 for the United Kingdom, 12 for Austria, 13 for Luxembourg, 14 for Switzerland, 15 (vacant), 16 for Norway, 17 for Finland, 18 for Denmark, 19 for Romania, 20 for Poland, 21 for Portugal, 22 for the Russian Federation, 23 for Greece, 24 (vacant), 25 for Croatia, 26 for Slovenia, 27 for Slovakia, 28 for Belarus, 29 for Estonia, 30 (vacant), 31 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 32-36 (vacant), 37 for Turkey, 38-39 (vacant) and 40 for The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Subsequent numbers will be assigned to other countries in the chronological order in which they ratify
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.